The Washington critic., 1887-02-12
A MIDNIGHT CALL.

Mr.. Pembcrton Pitchley Is Il bache-
lor, without recourse, rs they say,
commercially. There Is rumor float
ing about that Pitchley was once
crossed in love, and that from the
hour of this occurrence, he sworc
celibacy The little incident in the
life of Penn, which ] am about TO ie-
late, rather confirmed this rumor, or
at any rate, argues that at one period
of his life he must have experienced Il
tender affection.
=tr. Pembcrton pitchley had been to
,ne theatre, aud was Just fortunate
enough TO land himself in bis snug
little bedroom a twenty minutes past
eleven p. M, as the rain came down in
a drenching series Of showers, which,
though strictly speaking, could not be
called cats and dogs, must have
oubled, sensibly, all those animals
that happened to be out al that hour
Penn had TO be early ut the store next
morning, and, with little touch of re-
morse at giving way to dissipation and
late hours under such circumstances,
he went through the various mcchan.
isms of preparation, and exactly as the
hands of the clock pointed to twenty
minutes of twelve popped into his bed
Penn couldn't help thinking, as he
nestled himself down costly among the
feathers, what blessed thing IL was
on such cold, dreary, rainy night
to have feathers to nestle among and
how much better It was to have one 5
feathers to ones self; aud how good it
was TO be all alone in a quiet cosy
room, in quiet by street; and-Ugh
Almost asleep-IIow | shall enjoy it,
tonight; and-"What the deuce is
that " and Penn sat straight up in
bed, wakened thoroughly by a knock
that, in quiet S. street, sounded
more like an earthquake than any.
thing else.
"Confound that fellow Must be
knocking to get in somewhere. Lost
his night'key, ! suppose. Maybe he's
drunk"
Knock knock knock
BY George ! can't stand this.
That fellow will keep me awake all
night. There he goes again
And there lie did 20 again, sure
enough, with double rat n tat. Penn
stood it for ten minutes, and then out
he jumped from his warm bed. A
glance showed him the state of affairs
In an instant.
"'Pon my soul, it's somebody trying
10 get into that house opposite, where
the new tenants are. Got travelling
bag, too. Pretty hour of the night
this for people TO be trying to get into
houses with carpet bag. Something $
got to be done, or that fellow won't
lei me go to sleep to night. Lord, how
IL rains y
Knock knock knock
"Oh, thunder | can't stand this !
Here, you, sir !" and Mr.. Pemberton
P1,chley threw up the sash, with a
bang. do you know you're keeping
all the neighborhood awakc?"
''Oh, pickles ~ responded gru1
voice outside.
pickles? What's pickles got to do
with IL? The man that supplies EN-
with pickles can't certainly come al
this time of night. Well, sir, pickles
oI no pickles, you must stop that
knocking"
Must /? We'll, that's rich - re-.
sponded the voice. The doors the
door of me own house, and I'll knock
spots out of it If / please"
why, the fellows belligcrcnt as
well as noisy. See here, sir! just let
me ask you how long you intend ham.
mering on that door"
Until get in"
well, why don't you go in, and do
your knocking tomorrow.
The knoCker made some irrevcrcnt
answer TO this, which Penn could only
translate as having reference to putting
somebody's head In bag, or what
sounded like it, and went on vigorously
with his knocking. Penn stood 1t for
two minutes longer, and then opened
his batteries again.
See here, Mr.-Mr.-- Idon't know
your name, but If you don't stop thar
noise, I'll call the police.
60 In, old man, and tell your wife
10 grease your ears, and put you to
bed" snecred the outsider, aud then
rodoubled his knocking.
"Oh, by George this won't do.
must coax this chap. See here, my
dear fellow, can't you arrange this In
some other way? Why don't you go
10 hotel for the night? I'd rather
ray for it myself, than stand this
mo, sir don't leave where | can
keep sight of this house. I've private
reasons for that"
"lIollo what does that mean? lie
has private reasons for wanting to keep
sight of that house. Then why don I
you stand under the porch opposite,
and watch the house, without knock.
ing"
That don't suit me"
Knock knock knock
"Oh, murder Here, hold on, sir
What do you say to coming up here:
You shall sit by this window this mora.
ing, and watch your house. Anything,
SO that get a BIT Of sleep"
"Weil, pom my life, that's very civil
OF you. You're better fellow than
took you for How am to get In 2"
Hold your hat. Here's my night.
key" and Penn threw It,
IAN right. Thank you -
There was a poking OF n strange hand
at the door, and strange stumbling up
the stair, and Penn held the door of his
room open TO stalwart fellow, drip,
ping into puddlcs the moment he
stepped inside the bachelors carefully
kept bed room.
"Oh, God bless me Wen all be
a!loat in a minute. Here, sir for
gracious sake take Off some Of those
wet things"
BY George, sir; it's all plot. They
ust have heard me. Don't you think
they heard me?" and the stranger
divested himself of ovcrcoat and hat,
and threw them, dripping rs they
were, on the bed.
"Oh, Lord" cried Penn, rushing at
the wet garments, and snatching them
away, You'll soak the bed SO that it
cant be slept in for week. i"
ooh, don't be tidgety. It's a plot
sin by heavens, plot" and the
stranger strobe up and down the little